Byrne puts case for more care spending

The care services minister has admitted there is a gulf between current and desirable levels of social care funding.

Speaking at a debate last week on older people’s life chances, Liam Byrne said it could take “one or two comprehensive spending reviews” to “get to a place we may all be more comfortable with” on social care funding.

He also made a specific call at the Fabian Society event for spending on preventive services for older people to increase by 1.8bn to promote “active ageing”, though suggested this could happen over a decade.

But he was challenged by Julian Forder, project manager of the Wanless review of older people’s social care, about the economic benefits of preventive services.

Byrne also revealed that the government would publish proposals to strengthen the protection of vulnerable adults, alongside the white paper on social care and health, next month.